Colin Beattie

25 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when work will start on the schools that are receiving funding from the recently announced £230 million investment under the Scotland's Schools for the Future programme.

6 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent YouGov survey suggesting that 42% of people in Scotland are unaware of the risk factors of being overweight.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I am pleased that the survey quoted indicated that nearly 60% of the population are aware of the risk of cancer associated with being overweight. Our own data from the Scottish Health Survey – Knowledge, attitudes and motivations to health (2013) had awarenes…

16 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact of the drink driving laws, introduced in December 2014.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government lowered the drink driving limit to help change driver behaviour, improve road safety and reduce the number of deaths on our roads. Following the change in the limit, it is encouraging that 12.5% fewer drivers were detected by Police …

7 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the gender pay gap in Scotland is 7.3%, compared with 9.4% in the UK.

2 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its finances of not devolving the Crown Estate's share in Fort Kinnaird retail park.

17 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the HS2 rail project coming to Scotland.

11 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding planning for winter.

11 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04551 by John Swinney on 9 September 2015 (Official Report, c.5), whether it will provide an update on (a) the progress that is being made with the Office for National Statistics regarding the EU accounting requirements and (b) when funding will be …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has sought a view from the Office for National Statistics on proposed changes to the contractual arrangements that apply to the Scottish Government’s hub programme of infrastructure investment, through which a number of projects includ…

11 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23749 by Derek Mackay on 9 January 2015, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making on achieving grade separation for the Sheriffhall roundabout.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges sets outs a three stage design process for road schemes. With the stage 1 assessment complete we are progressing the stage 2 assessment to identify a preferred option. It is expected that the stage 2 assessment will be …

2 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on its climate targets is of the UK Government’s energy policies.

20 Oct 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many local authorities use the Water Direct scheme to deduct water and sewerage charges, and whether this includes Midlothian and East Lothian councils.

29 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with further and higher education institutions to ensure that students in receipt of employment and support allowance will not find their education disrupted when universal credit is rolled out.

21 Sep 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes it expects to make to personal independence payments following their devolution.

15 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26951 by John Swinney on 31 July 2015, whether it will provide an update on the progress that is being made with regard to the EU accounting requirements, and what information it has regarding when funding will be released for the Newbattle High Sch…

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-04551 on 9 September 2015 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10070

15 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Court of Session's recent decision not to overturn NHS Lothian’s withdrawal of prescriptive homeopathic medicine to a Midlothian resident.

7 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on its policy will be of reports that Germany, Latvia and Greece are to opt out of growing genetically modified crops.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The fact that Germany, Europe’s largest country, Latvia, Greece and others are going to opt out of growing EU approved genetically modified (GM) crops shows the continuing concern that exists across the EU about the cultivation of GM crops and confirms that w…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide toward establishing pilot programmes to assess the efficacy of green space therapy.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The physical and mental health benefits of greenspace are well established and evidence is outlined on the NHS Health Scotland website: http://www.healthscotland.com/topics/settings/nhsgreenspace/evidence.aspx The Scottish Government is supportive of project…

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources are deployed toward the use of (a) woodlands and (b) other green spaces to improve the (i) wellbeing, (ii) educational and (iii) employment prospects of (A) young people experiencing difficulties and (B) adults with mental illness.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government and public bodies support a wide range of programmes that use woodlands and/or other green spaces to improve wellbeing, educational and employment prospects of young people experiencing difficulties and adults with mental illness. Pub…

16 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support and develop the use of Doric and Lallans Scots.

26 May 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of engagement undertaken by Network Rail with local constituents during the building of the Borders Railway.

12 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Answer · Marco Biagi: The Commission on Local Tax Reform was established in February 2015 and has now met six times. The minutes of those meetings are openly published online at the commission's website. The commission is taking evidence from a number of witnesses and has launch…

21 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it has to support community-based sporting groups over the coming year.

23 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the Scottish economy would be of the UK leaving the EU.

9 Mar 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it can provide to encourage dog owners to pick up dog waste.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging responsible dog ownership and recognises that dog fouling is a concern for many residents in communities across Scotland and, as I am sure the member is aware, aside from being unsightly and an unpleasant ha…

2 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be made in active travel using the Future Transport Fund.

17 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the CashBack for Communities scheme.

20 Jan 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making toward meeting the demand for organ donations.

7 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP appointments were missed by patients in the last 12 months.

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on achieving grade separation for the Sheriffhall roundabout.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges sets outs a three stage design process for road schemes. The Stage 1 Assessment is now complete which narrowed an initial list of eight junction improvement options down to four. These are now being assessed as part of …

16 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final version of Scotland's National Marine Plan.